Trek The Unknown

After a few days of walking…it’s time to rest! So that day we decided to have a resting day.

Chame Is the largest village in the district and actually you can find some pretty cheap trekking gear or food that you might need later. Of course it all compared to the prices along the trek.

We bought some twix bar which were 50 rupees each. We also bought some trekking gear. A friend of mine bought a walking stick since his got broken. I bought another fleece shirt…(I thought I’m going to freeze when being closer towards Throng La (La means, pass).

Chame has hot springs! but….At that time of year which is the dry season ( We were visiting there at the end of October) the springs are actually a tiny pond you can either put in your hand or leg only.

On the other hand, I met some people taking a bucket, filling it and having a shower by the spring. The water are warm and great!

In order to get to the hot springs turn right, right after the last bridge in the village (when coming from Danaqyu village direction). Then you walk through a few guest houses courts down the river ( river on your right). After passing those guests houses you need to go down straight to the river, there you’ll see a concrete pool (which was empty at that time).

Our porter said that one or two month later there would be more water in the spring and the concrete pool would be full which would allow a splendid bath!

enjoy

oh! also, HAPPY NEW 2008!

Just came back from shopping for some tekking equipment. As I said next week I’m flying to Katmandu. I’m going to travel Nepal for something like 7 weeks. Since this trip to Nepal wasn’t on my plan at all, I don’t have any of my tekking equipment with me (except of my great whitney gregory backpack).

I’m about to trek the “Around Annapourna” , at some point so I do need to buy some new equipment.

Get some view on how much trekking equipment costs here. I went to a friends store so I got lower prices (30% off probably), but you’ll get the feeling.

Here’s what I got (prices are in Chinese yuan - RMB. exchnage rate 1$ = 7.5 RMB) :

1. shoes - bought Sherpa ****shoes. These shoes are water proof, but don’t have Gortex. It’s the cheapest good shoes for treking you can find here (300 RMB)

2. walking metal stick with a 2 position of lock and soft lock. Can be extended to different hights. Includes Campuse and can be used as a tripod or your camera (made in china - 60 RMB. If you want an Iltalian one 300 RMB is the price for you.)

3. Head Flash light , not watr proof ( 20 RMB, Peztel costs 560 RMB)

Some other stuff I saw in the store were thermo t-shirt ( 50 RMB), Thick rain coat( 728 RMB..after 30% of it’s ~506 RMB ).

Many westerners had the pleasure of bargening in many countries for differnet products they buy. It’s ALWAYS part of the trip.

When arriving here I started my bargening as follows:

seller: qoutes a price

me: “Tai Gui Le” ( too expensive) - offer a price 30%-40% precent less

seller: nodding his head for no…and offer some other price…etc’…

eventually the price would be 25% off the original one. Whenever I finished bargeinig I felt that I paid to much….My family always gave me the feeligng that I padi to much also…

Then, Fiannally I got it. Bargening in this country should go like this:

seller: qouting a price

me: me: “Tai Gui Le” ( too expensive) - offer a price 80%-90% less

We would finish with 60%-70% off the original price!

Got it?!